Visteon, a global automotive components supplier, is showcasing to its Indian customers a concept car that illustrates its vision of what the future holds for mobility.

Visteon has remodelled a Nissan Leaf as a concept car called the e-Bee with smart energy management system, integrated climate system module, car-cloud connectivity, user-friendly driver interface and airbag free cockpit.

The vehicle has touch-based controls and cloud-centred profile storage.

“This is to demonstrate the company’s vision for future mobility,” said Bertrant Stelandre, Head of Auto Envision, Design and Innovation Europe, Visteon Innovation and Technology GmbH.

He, along with a 10-member R&D team in Europe and 10 vendors, developed the concept car.

Fully compatible with electric vehicle and hybrid platforms, the car gathers and disseminates driving-related data.

The technology in the concept car, from advanced development to application, is ready for commercialisation. Automobile manufacturers could take any of the development to be included in their vehicles, he told newspersons at the company’s plant at Chengalpet, near here. The e-Bee does not have a dashboard, radio, air conditioner vent, speedometer or even a rear view mirror.

Subu Nagasubramony, Managing Director, Vieston India, said there was a good response from customers in India for e-Bee.

Customised features

While most of the features showcased were for the US or European markets, they could be customised for local customers, he said.

On the slowdown in the automobile sector, Nagarsubramony said that while the industry was in bad shape, the company was not affected. “It is ok. We expect a turnaround. India has a huge potential,” he said.

The $15-billion Visteon Group employs around 3,500 in India. It designs, engineers and manufactures innovative components and systems for automobiles. .

> raja.simhan@thehindu.co.in

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